Identification & Site Information:

• Name: American Sailor (previously Mayor Scully, Neptune Line No. 10)

• Type: Barge (freight)

• Year Built: 1918

• Official Number: U.S. No. 167386

• Dimensions:

• Length: 112.0 feet (34.1 m)

• Width (Beam): 29.2 feet (8.9 m)

• Depth: 13.3 feet (4.1 m)

• Tonnage: 429 tons (displacement)

• Owner: New York Scow Corporation

• Final Disposition: Sank on November 2, 1937, in Lake Erie off Westfield, NY

• Location: Westfield or Barcelona, NY, Lake Erie

Vessel Type Description:

The American Sailor was a wooden freight Barge, designed for transporting bulk goods across the Great Lakes. Barges like the American Sailor were essential to commerce during the early 20th century, often towed in groups behind powerful tugs. This vessel was part of a fleet serving the freight industry, adapted to carry various cargoes, including sulfur during its final voyage.

History:

The American Sailor was built in 1918 and initially operated under different names, including Mayor Scully and Neptune Line No. 10. By the 1930s, it was owned by the New York Scow Corporation, serving as a freight Barge with a registered crew of one.

On November 2, 1937, the American Sailor was part of a tow led by the Tug Ballenas, alongside two other barges, the American Scout and Betty Hedger. A severe storm struck Lake Erie during this voyage, causing the American Sailor to founder off Westfield, NY. The vessel was carrying sulfur at the time of its sinking. While no lives were lost, the Barge was declared a Total Loss.

The 1938 Merchant Vessel List confirmed the incident, specifying the location as near Westfield, NY. Despite this documentation, detailed accounts of the sinking, including the conditions leading to its loss, remain scarce.

Final Disposition:

The American Sailor sank during a storm in Lake Erie. The exact circumstances surrounding its demise are unclear, and its wreck remains missing. The cargo of sulfur and the vessel itself were lost, but there were no fatalities.

NOTMARs & Advisories:

• Current Status: There are no Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the American Sailor.

• Navigational Hazard: The wreck’s location is unknown and does not present a hazard to current navigation.

Located By & Date:

• Discovery: The wreck of the American Sailor has not been located. Its precise location in Lake Erie remains undetermined.

Resources & Links:

1. Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes

2. David Swayze Shipwreck File: Comprehensive archive of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

Conclusion:

The American Sailor represents a typical example of early 20th-century Great Lakes commerce and the perils faced by vessels during severe storms. While no lives were lost, the Barge’s sinking underscores the vulnerability of freight vessels to the region’s unpredictable weather. The lack of detailed records makes it a challenge for historians and researchers to reconstruct the full story of its loss, adding to the mystery surrounding the event.

Keywords:

• American Sailor

• Lake Erie Shipwreck

• Freight Barge

• Great Lakes Storm

• Westfield, NY

• 1937 Shipwreck

Glossary:

• Freight Barge: A flat-bottomed vessel designed for the transport of bulk goods, often towed by tugs.

• Sulfur Cargo: Sulfur, commonly transported for industrial uses, posed risks when exposed to moisture or heat.

• Foundered: A maritime term indicating that a vessel sank due to flooding, structural failure, or weather conditions.